Men’s soccer responds from early deficit, earns first Ivy win over Yale

For the first time this season, Princeton men’s soccer found themselves needing to come from behind at home, and it did not take long for the Tigers to answer.

After conceding early and having an apparent equalizer overturned, Princeton (6–2–2 overall, 1–1–0 Ivy League) rallied for a 2–1 win over Yale (2–6–1, 0–1–1) Saturday night at Myslik Field, earning its first Ivy League victory of the season.

Junior defender Roka Tsunehara was at the heart of the comeback, assisting Princeton’s first goal before scoring the game-winner from the penalty spot early in the second half. This three-point performance marked a career high for Tsunehara. Princeton ultimately outshot Yale 12–10 and put seven attempts on target compared to four for the Bulldogs. 

Yale scored first in just over six minutes into the match. Defender Sven Meacham helped spring forward Ryder Mills, who finished to give the Bulldogs an early 1–0 advantage.

However, Princeton responded almost immediately.

From a corner kick just minutes later, the Tigers looked to have the equalizer when sophomore forward Jackson Martin put the ball into the net. But after video review, the goal was taken off the scoreboard because of a foul in the box.

However, this did little to change Princeton’s approach.

“We didn’t change our mentality at all,” senior midfielder Liam Beckwith wrote to The Daily Princetonian. “We are a resilient team that doesn’t dwell on mistakes or moments of bad luck, and we knew that if we kept applying pressure and working together, we were going to find the equalizer.”

Ten minutes later, Princeton did exactly that.

In the 19th minute, Tsunehara found space on the right side and delivered a ball into the box toward Beckwith, who had made a late run from midfield.

Beckwith said the play developed after junior midfielder Garry Zhang played the ball wide to Tsunehara.

“I know he likes to cross the ball from those positions so I started making a deep run from midfield,” Beckwith wrote. “Our forwards were also making runs and drawing the defenders so no one was marking me.”

Tsunehara’s service found Beckwith, who redirected it into the net to level the match at one.

“Roka put in a great cross, and when I saw the trajectory of the ball in the air I knew I could get on the end of it,” Beckwith said. “I arrived at the spot and got enough of a touch to put in the goal.”

For Tsunehara, this looked much like what Princeton had spent the week preparing for.

“I think that we saw exactly what we had been preparing for all week long leading up to this game because we knew that they were going to be a team that played defensively,” Tsunehara wrote to the ‘Prince.’ “When I saw that I had an opportunity to cross to Liam who was making a great run, it was just about execution at that point and I’m glad that we were able to convert.”

The teams entered halftime tied 1–1, but Princeton quickly found its breakthrough at the beginning of the second half.

Sophomore midfielder Tyler Vilet attacked a loose ball inside the Yale penalty area after a deflection off a defender. Vilet reached it first and drew a challenge, earning Princeton a penalty.

“Before the ball came towards me I tried to give Giacomo [Gabrielli] an opening to play me and once I saw the deflection off the defender I knew I had to get there first,” Vilet wrote to the ‘Prince.’ “Once I got there I saw the defender lunge, making it obvious to try and draw the foul for a penalty.”

Tsunehara stepped to the spot in the 52nd minute with a chance to put Princeton ahead.

There was little doubt in his mind about the result.

“My mind was a mixture between confidence and gratitude,” Tsunehara said. “When taking a penalty you have to believe that it’s going to go into the back of the net and I 100% believed that I was going to score.”

Tsunehara buried the penalty to give Princeton a 2–1 lead. 

“I also felt grateful for the opportunity to be able to help our team in such a pivotal moment on the back of the trust from my teammates,” Tsunehara added.

Holding onto leads was a problem for Princeton with challenges earlier in the season, so the Tigers were determined not to retreat after going ahead.

“We tried not to change the match as much because based on previous games we tended to sit back after taking a lead, making it hard to control the game,” Vilet said. “So we kept playing the same way to control the game and ultimately come out with a win.”

Yale increased its pressure as the second half continued. The Bulldogs took seven of their 10 shots after halftime and earned all three of their corner kicks in the second period.

But Princeton’s defense held strong.

Senior goalkeeper Andrew Samuels stopped Yale’s final shot on target in the 67th minute and finished the night with three stops.

Princeton continued searching for an insurance goal of its own during the second half. First-year midfielder Chase Miller forced Yale goalkeeper Josh Linebaugh into a save in the 57th minute before Princeton generated several more opportunities down the stretch, but the one-goal lead was enough.

The final whistle secured Princeton’s first conference victory and moved the Tigers to .500 in Ivy League play. Princeton continued applying pressure rather than allowing either setback to alter its approach.

The Tigers will go away from Ivy League play for the final time Tuesday night when they travel to Hofstra (7–2–2, 2–1–2 Coastal Athletic Association). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Hempstead, N.Y.

Matthew Yi is an associate Sports editor for the ‘Prince.’

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